Madison, Wisconsin Alder Juliana Bennett says public use of word, plantation, harms her as she is a "direct descendant of enslaved people." Identity politics must die.
Identity Politics Is Destroying Madison Muny Policy
Commentary
Madison, Wisconsin — How does one evaluate propositions in Madison, Wisconsin? By determining how statements of fact make you feel.
Does a voiced conclusion make you feel offended? Proceed no further. Do not read. Do not think, evaluate evidence or employ logic. All that is relevant is you have become offended.
It's that bad in Madison; black Common Council members are the worst offenders. I would argue these howling primates are anti-intellectual, and just plain dumb offenders.
Latest illustration of how much Democratic Party politics and politically correct nonsense have dumbed-down political discourse follows a shit show, reported by Lucas Robinson in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Reports Robinson:
Former three-time Mayor Paul Soglin called the treatment of a group of Black Madison City Council members unaligned with Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway an example of 'plantation politics,' though he [Soglin] later apologized for the comment after it triggered backlash from some Black elected officials in the city.
What's the beef?
Soglin blasted in Facebook what he contends are racist, discriminatory "plantation politics" employed by Mayor Rhodes-Conway because of mayoral Council Committee assignments that resemble work of past urban political machines.
Do you not the problem? That's likely because you are not an idiot.
One hundred and sixty-five years ago, America embraced slavery. Therefore, every black person has a right not be reminded, ever, that this phenomenon was a central social-economic-moral institution of America by publicly uttered words such as "plantation" that evoke slavery.
Reaction of black Council members is swift and sure.
Sabrina Madison, (district 17), said using the word "plantation" during Black History Month is an "attack" on black leadership.
I wish Alder Madison had not used the word, attack, as this violent metaphor triggers me, in the vernacular, flashing me back to my past modest work opposing death squads and third-world fascism.
As a direct descendant of enslaved people, I find it deeply offensive that a privileged white man like former Mayor Soglin would equate the Mayor's committee assignments, and by extension, my service and that of several Black alders, to plantation politics. This comparison is both ignorant and appalling. It trivialized the brutal history of slavery and disrespects the agency and intellect of Black leaders who serve this city. Plantation politics refers to a system where white people maintain power by manipulating and using Black people to oppress other Black people. It is a tool of coercion, meant to divide and control. The implication that Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway's committee assignments are an example of plantation politics is absurd. Canit not simply be the case that the Mayor appointed us because we share similar visions for the city? Or the we, as Black alders, were chosen for these positions based on our qualifications, experience, and leadership —rather than some cynical racial calculation? The real insult here is the suggestion that Black leaders cannot think or act independently and instead must take our marching orders from another white person. Maybe that was true of Soglin’s own relationships with Black leaders in his political circles, but it is certainly not true for me or my colleagues. We are leaders in our own right, not proxies for anyone else’s agenda. By his own misguided definition of plantation politics, one could argue that it is Soglin himself engaging in it. He is using Black leadership as a tool to sow division and manipulate public perception to serve his own political agenda. His words do not uplift Black alders; they exploit us. It is clear that the former mayor's goal is not to advocate for Black alders, but to advance his own political grievances. If he truly wanted to support Black leadership, then he would pick up the phone and talk to us—not insult us and spread offensive, misleading narratives. It is important to note that former Mayor Soglin's claims are simply false. Black alders from various ideological perspectives hold key committee assignments. Ald. Harrington-McKinney serves on the Transportation Commission. Alds. Knox and Myadze, along with former Ald. Carter, serve on the Alcohol License Review Committee (ALRC). These facts directly contradict his inflammatory claims. Soglin’s comments are offensive, divisive, and completely disconnected from reality. In fact, it is comments like these reduce Black leadership to the color of our skin, ignoring the intelligence, independence, and diversity of thought within the Black diaspora. We are here because we fought for and earned our positions—not because we serve anyone’s agenda but the people of Madison. Let me be clear, we do not need a privileged old white man who represents an outdated political worldview exemplary of the gerontocracy of today's politics to fight our battles for us. ESPECIALLY DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH. So please. Keep my name out of your mouth.
Senate Democrats put on fetid display at RFK nomination hearings
Update: RFK confirmed with zero Democrat votes. The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for Secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services puts on display, yet again, that the slightest departure from Democrats' embrace of Big Pharma, and current medical doctrine, will result in character assassination and lies. During questioning today, same old have-you-stop-beating-your-wife Democrats on the United States Senate Committee on Finance display no interest in the health of the American people.
This is disgusting.
This is not what Americans want, certainly not what Americans need.
Democrats should pay attention to Senate Democrats. Their complete abandonment of service to the American people is clear to anyone who watches this disgusting display.
August 20 is my sister Jan's birthday. When we were young we shared a bedroom -- bunk beds actually
with me on the bottom and her on the top -- and she would request that I sing her to sleep each night so I build up quite a repertoire of songs. One of her favorites -- and mine -- was Phil Ochs. I am posting this song in her memory because it was one of Ochs' most poetic.
Jackie Captain passed away this Summer, and loved life, Phil Ochs, and worked for peace.
Jackie died, saddened by Genocide, knowing at home she was secure in love.
Changes, Phil Ochs (1964)
Sit by my side, come as close as the air, Share in a memory of gray; Wander in my words, dream about the pictures That I play of changes.
Green leaves of summer turn red in the fall To brown and to yellow they fade. And then they have to die, trapped within the circle time parade of changes.
Scenes of my young years were warm in my mind, Visions of shadows that shine. Til one day I returned and found they were the Victims of the vines of changes.
The world's spinning madly, it drifts in the dark Swings through a hollow of haze, A race around the stars, a journey through The universe ablaze with changes.
Moments of magic will glow in the night All fears of the forest are gone But when the morning breaks they're swept away by golden drops of dawn, of changes.
Passions will part to a strange melody. As fires will sometimes burn cold. Like petals in the wind, we're puppets to the silver strings of souls, of changes.
Your tears will be trembling, now we're somewhere else, One last cup of wine we will pour And I'll kiss you one more time, and leave you on the rolling river shores of changes.
So, sit by my side, come as close as the air, Share in a memory of gray; Wander in my words, dream about the pictures That I play of changes.
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