Dear President Trump, Another hot sunny Sunday means that once again we took our dog stroll at the University of Washington. It’s one of the few places with mid-day shade where our little dog won’t pick up too many burrs or too much pitch in his hairy feet. These factors and the free parking after … Continue reading Place names matter
Misogyny
The beast is out of control and it’s going to get worse
Dear President Trump, Did you catch the picture of the little tiny African American girl, Auriah “Lovie” Duncan, reaching up to put her hand on the outstretched hand of Harriet Tubman depicted in the Maryland mural? The little girl is dwarfed by the wall-size image of Tubman, but she looks ready to go wherever Tubman … Continue reading The beast is out of control and it’s going to get worse
“Atmospheric discrimination”
Dear President Trump, For a few days now, I’ve been chewing on something to tell you about, trying to figure out how to frame it, what to include, what to let stay shadowy. This morning while I was getting some exercise I finally decided I was ready to tackle it (I’ll tell you what “it” … Continue reading “Atmospheric discrimination”
Marginalized voices
Dear President Trump, I told you yesterday that Laura and I took the dogs on a walking tour of the University campus to see the heron rookery. We tagged on visiting a couple of the newer buildings on campus that Laura wanted to show me with the idea that I could go in and check … Continue reading Marginalized voices
White by design
Dear President Trump, It’s only 1pm and already it’s been another banner bird day. We took the dogs to the Union Bay Natural Area this morning and saw or heard the following birds: redwing blackbirds, seagulls, mallards, song sparrows, wrens, two osprey (plus noisy chicks), and a heron. We also saw turtles sunning themselves on … Continue reading White by design
So many phoenixes rising (out of the ashes of the patriarchy)
Dear President Trump, This morning I have three true stories for you, all of which I heard on the same day last week. The first involves a woman who re-entered the work force a few years ago and whose talents have quickly become apparent. Recently her boss asked her to take over a poor-performing department … Continue reading So many phoenixes rising (out of the ashes of the patriarchy)
Calling out “President Pussy Grabber” and other positives
Dear President Trump, Oh, oh, oh is there no end of shitty stuff that’s burbled up in the last 24, 48, 72, 96, etc. hours; no shortage whatsoever of mind-blowing crap that you and your hench-people have foisted on the rest of us. Then there’s the recent WP report piecing together how Russia manipulated Bernie … Continue reading Calling out “President Pussy Grabber” and other positives
What to do with misguided, poorly socialized men?
Dear President Trump, During our morning text check-in Laura and I decided it would basically be a full-time job if we were to take on calling out male privilege. She told me that this past week she’d learned a tough and disappointing lesson having realized she has historically over-accommodated male arrogance, downplayed it, and overlooked … Continue reading What to do with misguided, poorly socialized men?
It was gendered
Dear President Trump, I flew to Portland late last night after my first political essay writing class (!) for a three-day VA meeting. The class ended at 9pm and the meeting in Portland started at 8am and there just wasn’t another (safe) way to make the trip that would allow me to get here on … Continue reading It was gendered
“Great men”*
Dear President Trump, Yesterday there was a WP op-ed about the National Portrait Gallery’s new exhibit celebrating the upcoming centennial of women winning the right to vote and how it brings African American women’s suffrage to the fore. The essay particularly highlights Alice Dunbar Nelson, who I figured was probably related to Paul Dunbar in … Continue reading “Great men”*