Anti-racist Arguments Are Tearing People Apart
This article takes a very, very close look at one semi-viral video clip and examines all the moving pieces that turned a school council Zoom meeting into a contentious argument about race. Members of this particular council seemed to be badgering one another about not being anti-racist enough, or being anti-racist the wrong way.
One quote from a superintendent speaking to the council on how to move forward: "We need to permit ourselves to be comfortable in the imperfection of this work. We cannot wait to talk until everybody knows the right words and has assessed the least terrifying public stances to take."
- Calvin
Here's my take. A white dude was being snarky. Upset about that, a white woman called the white man racist for having a baby of color on his lap briefly during a Zoom call. I'm pretty sure we've lost the thread on racial equality if this is where the conversation currently sits. -Brian
How a new consensus against racism became a moral panic
It's simultaneously encouraging that we as a country seem to have made real progress in the fight against racism, while also demoralizing that the media and Twitter mobs are using this fight to push people into a never-ending outrage–and not just about systemic racism. There is much more work to be done, but we shouldn't waste this moment because we can't figure out how to have civil debates and honest conversations. - Calvin
100% agreed. Elevating the voice of the hurt and marginalized and listening and sacrificing to bring new life sounds pretty similar to the gospel. Subverting it for personal power unfortunately also sounds too familiar. -Brian
Stop Panicking about the Post Office
I was trying to convince Katie that she should do a little blurb in this issue and I had her read this article as an option. She eventually demurred, but she did remind me that this dude who is now the Postmaster General of these United States was once the head of logistics firm XPO. Our one interaction with XPO was their failure to deliver a couch to us over the span of 5 weeks and resulted in us at various times owning various fractions of a single couch. At journey's end we possessed two whole couches, which obviously raises the question of how exactly the second couch was birthed into existence. So I'm not saying I've got a lot of confidence in this guy but also we should probably stop panicking about lots of things–including the post office. -Brian
I had an interaction the other day on one of the stupid social media sites that ended with the person commanding me not to speak to them again because they didn't like what I was saying. I assure you I wasn't being a jerk (I know, that's what every jerk says).
This is a blog post from the same author as the incredible post we sent a few issues ago about racial dynamics in Birmingham. When I read this one I thought about that online interaction that was more or less someone covering their ears and yelling "I can't hear you". But also I wonder what "fascist architecture" I have constructed around me that I don't even realize exists.
Also this article is all about Gandalf :) -Brian
Michael Avenatti Lived the High Life While Owing Millions to IRS
No further example of the herd mentality of our modern day media and/or culture is needed beyond this yahoo. For about three minutes he was a semi-serious presidential candidate and TV talk show superstar. Meanwhile, in reality he's stealing (allegedly) money from his clients, business partners, and whoever else will sit still long enough for him to dip his hand into their pockets. -Brian
Five Tribes of American Voters
Michael Avenatti Lived the High Life While Owing Millions to IRS
No further example of the herd mentality of our modern day media and/or culture is needed beyond this yahoo. For about three minutes he was a semi-serious presidential candidate and TV talk show superstar. Meanwhile, in reality he's stealing (allegedly) money from his clients, business partners, and whoever else will sit still long enough for him to dip his hand into their pockets. -Brian
Facebook and Google Aren't Hurt by GDPR, But Smaller Firms Are - Bloomberg
Ask Calvin how much time he's spent in his life worrying about GPDR regulations and how much of that time he could have spent on some sort of innovation that created value for his customers instead.... -Brian
Answer: I spend less time now than I did in 2018 when the legislation was about to go into effect, but every so often we get requests for more info about our compliance. Then I have to spend half a day or more gathering documents or filling out questionnaires. My opinion: GDPR is well-intentioned but clumsily implemented by people who sort-of understand how the Internet works. - Calvin
The godfather of fake news - From Joe D.
Before everyone's favorite–and least favorite–pols were bleating about fake news, an actual industry of fake news developed. It's not who you think and they aren't doing it for the reasons you think. -Brian