“As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
While politics are clearly and incontrovertibly relational, political campaigns have developed into something entirely different. In fact, the political campaign version of, “you can catch more flies with honey” must be, “you can catch more flies with money.”
Over the last two years, tourists and vacationers have flocked to Alabama to escape unnecessary restrictions and mandates. They also traveled here in record numbers because Alabama has something for everyone.
Recently a guy named Justin, who said he was 19, called in and asked me on the air, “if hard times create strong men, where are the strong men to lead us out of these hard times?” What a great question!
Short for June 19th, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, when 250,000 enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas were informed of their freedom by Union soldiers, after the Civil War ended.
“Thank you for your commentary on voting. I have researched the candidates this year as never before. I am appalled at how many don’t seem to understand, ignore or are possibly covering up involvement in the illegal and subversive activities taking place in our country and world.
For decades, and across multiple wars, the U.S. military disposed of various types of waste by burning it in large pits near their military bases. These burn pits emitted airborne toxins, and, as a result, many soldiers in close contact with burn pits have been diagnosed with rare illnesses and diseases, often manifesting years after they completed their tours of duty. Approximately 3.5 million Post-9/11 veterans are assumed to have been exposed to burn pit toxins. And for years, these veterans have called on Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide some form of health care and compensation relief.
Modern people seem to struggle with the issue of pain and suffering more than anyone else in history. Here in the Western world, we live in such prosperity yet struggle so much more with affliction than people in other parts of the world.
“Will you sign my yearbook?” It’s a humbling question for a sixth grader to ask. In fact, it’s a humbling question at any age. Because what if the person turns you down? What if they reject you? Frankly I’d rather try to sell someone Amway.
Many observers believe that President Biden will forgive student loans via executive order. Loan forgiveness would be poor policy and likely harm higher education.
Would it surprise you to hear that younger generations have educated themselves well on big issues like climate change, inflation, healthcare, and abortion, but often don’t know the name of their own local representative?
As we approach the end of June, all eyes are on the U.S. Supreme Court as it releases its most consequential decisions of this term. The biggest among them is Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Org., in which the Supreme Court has been asked to overrule Roe v. Wade. I have written extensively about that case for 1819 News recently. But today, I want to highlight the courage and relentlessness of Alabama’s Chief Justice Tom Parker, who played a role in getting the U.S. Supreme Court to take Dobbs.
Listen to 1819 News Editor-in-Chief Ray Melick on Midday Mobile with Sean Sullivan as they discuss the capture of two former U.S. military Alabamians in Ukraine, the Trump endorsement of Katie Britt and the upcoming runoff elections.
Listen to 1819 News Editor-in-Chief Ray Melick on News & Views with Joey Clark as they discuss the closed primary proposals, Trump's endorsement of Katie Britt and the Secretary of State race.
In this last speech, Frederick Douglass exposed how the same class of elites who had been slave plantation owners falsely accused Black men of being predators and rapists of White women, and then manipulated mobs who lynched them without trial, to build racial hatred against Black men. Douglass explained that these evil actions, like slavery, hurt all Americans. The same class of elites still divides us by race today but has now found new ways to separate us.
Over the past year, unionization has been a hot topic in Alabama. An Amazon facility in Bessemer has twice voted on the issue of unionization, with workers choosing not to form a union both times. Recently, workers at a Starbucks in Birmingham voted to organize, becoming the first Starbucks in Alabama with unionized labor. But what does being part of a workers union really mean, and how might continuing efforts to expand unionization impact Alabama?
Even as I share this story, that same feeling of dread swamps me. My gut is knotted. And yet, I need to feel that. I think we all do before the runoff election and before another November passes.
Listen to 1819 News Editor-in-Chief Ray Melick on The Jeff Poor Show as they discuss the Trump endorsement of Katie Britt, the county-by-county ground game that Britt has run, and the apparent difference between Alabama and Florida in that Florida has competitive political races and Republicans there contrast themselves from Democrats.
commemorate Flag Day each June 14 with flags and red-white-and-blue items at our home, the State Auditor's office, my car, and even my clothes. Often, people will remark: “You’re getting ready for Independence Day mighty early” or some other comment that lets me know they do not realize it is Flag Day, June 14.
If there is one thing Donald Trump respects above all, it’s winning. Winning is his gold standard. Winning is his North star. All manner of sins can be forgiven by winning. All shifts in narrative, policy, or principle can be explained by winning. Even the corporate press is willing to meet Trump on his own winning terms, as they carefully keep track of his win/loss record in the 2022 midterm election cycle.
Sadly, too many of us spend our lives looking for something other than God to fill our longing for meaning: business, family, entertainment, and politics come to mind. But in relentlessly pursuing secular things that hold little eternal value, we remain unfulfilled and wonder why our lives never reach a state of satisfaction. There is no doubt that many people pursuing things other than God achieve a measure of “happiness” for a time: Fame. Comfort. Status. Pleasure. Wealth.
First, I appreciate your willingness to think outside the box and ask hard questions. I admire the search for a better way with the understanding that there may not be one. I appreciate that you are open to finding one or not finding one, as the case may be.
Let me put it this way: when liberal outlets like Media Matters are railing against conservatives because of a movie, it sets my mind to thinking that I really want to see it! To go a step further, when conservative outlets and pundits are urging their followers to go see it … yep, I am even more inclined.
Dr. Martin Luther King argued that the arc of the moral universe is long and bends toward justice. This geometry lesson was used to illustrate a belief that history is pulled gravitationally towards freedom.
“Because this is exactly the kinda [expletive] you write about, I just wanted to tell you my story. It doesn’t matter how [bleeped] up your life is. Prayer works. Love works. Kindness works. Goodness works.”
I think it is easy for us to assume that scientists are immune to the influence of their own beliefs and biases as they do research. We have this presumption that scientists are dispassionate and unbiased individuals who are committed to the truth and always simply report the facts. Kuhn’s book points out this fallacy, as his research into the history of science reveals that scientists are clearly not objective.
According to nationaldaycalendar.com, June is also: National Give a Bunch of Balloons Month, National DJ Month, African-American Music Appreciation Month, National Zoo and Aquarium Month, Men’s Health Month, National Adopt a Cat Month ...