Review: King-A Life by Jonathan Eig

As I immersed myself in this captivating biography, a whirlwind of emotions, memories, and contemplations flooded my mind. Recalling my teenage years, I realized how little I truly comprehended the magnitude of the civil rights struggle, especially in the deeply segregated South during the 1960s. Although I had heard of Martin Luther King Jr. as a young boy, I had no inkling of the profound impact he would have on our nation’s history.

This book, a compelling account of King’s life, stirred within me a deep sense of shame for the violence and hatred inflicted upon Black individuals due to their skin color and the prejudiced perceptions held by many white people. The author’s vivid descriptions of the bombings that claimed innocent lives, the brutal attacks on peaceful demonstrators by police dogs, and the countless murders committed by racists and law enforcement are a haunting reminder of the dark stain on our collective history.

Undeniably, Martin Luther King Jr. was an extraordinarily brave man—perhaps one of the bravest. Despite being subjected to jail, beatings, threats, and mob attacks, he remained steadfast in his commitment to nonviolence. The author adeptly captures King’s experiences, leaving readers in awe of his unwavering equanimity in the face of such brutality.

Moreover, the book delves into King’s personal flaws, including accusations of numerous affairs. The author, Eig, does not shy away from these indiscretions. It is revealed that King was targeted by the FBI through wiretapping and attempts to blackmail him with incriminating information. The book effectively dispels accusations of King being a communist sympathizer, providing compelling evidence to the contrary.

King faced adversaries from all angles: the FBI, racist politicians and officials, the police, fellow Black individuals who disagreed with his nonviolent philosophy, as well as ministers, church leaders, and conservative commentators who opposed his influence. Even Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, while initially ambivalent about King’s politics and impact on the civil rights movement, became entangled in a complex relationship with him. Johnson’s sentiments towards King soured when the latter publicly voiced his opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

Meticulously researched and skillfully written, this biography stands as the pinnacle of my reading experiences this year. It effortlessly transports readers into the turbulent era of the civil rights movement, providing a profound understanding of the indomitable spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. and the transformative power of his vision.

In conclusion, this book is an absolute must-read, capable of evoking an array of emotions and leaving a lasting impact. I wholeheartedly give it five stars, and then some.

The Truth, The Truth, You can’t Handle the Truth

And, nobody died in the Holocaust either. That’s the truth. It should happen. Six million Jews should die right now cause they cause all the problems in the world. But, it never happened.”
Roseanne Barr

“COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately,” COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.”“We don’t know whether it was deliberately targeted or not but there are papers out there that show the racial or ethnic differential and impact.”
RFK Jr.

“That [the war in Ukraine] does nothing to protect our borders, and that’s your hard-earned tax dollars. We’re funding them with equipment, we’re funding them with ammunition…Biden’s war in Ukraine, a proxy war with Russia, has depleted our military. Our military is the weakest it has been in decades and decades.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene

“Millions of illegal aliens have stormed across our borders, it is an invasion, like a military invasion. Our rights and liberties are being torn to shreds. Your country is being turned into a third-world hellhole, run by censors, perverts, criminals and thugs.”
Donald Trump

“Rosa Parks didn’t sit in the back, and neither am I gonna sit in the back.”
George Santos

Years, maybe it was decades ago, politicians, public officials, commentators and celebrities were much more circumspect in their public comments and behavior than their counterparts currently. It seems that chronic stupidity and ill behavior go unpunished. Instead, it gains you more poll points from your party’s voting base, gets you invitations to speak on talk shows and can be a stepping stone to having your own talk show or podcast.

In today’s media, stupid is overwhelming smart. Politicians, political commentators and many news organizations lie with impunity. Very few liars and incompetent people are punished or lose their jobs. Maybe the last time something like that happened occurred with Sarah Palin in 2008.

Today we have Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lisa Boebert, Matt Gaetz, Tommy Tuberville, Tucker Carlson, Jim Jordan, George Santos and countless others who are free to lie, slander and exaggerate. The public does not punish them. In many cases, a good portion of the public supports “a narrative” that gives weight to their slanted political, religious, cultural and prejudicial views.

I’m not sure the exact date when public discourse died but I’d say life support was pulled around 2016. That’s about the same time that the political IQ of this country fell into mid two digits. It’s still plunging…

Best Books for First Half of 2023

Few for the Pew

In their new book “The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back?” Jim Davis and Michael Graham with Ryan Burge argue that the most dramatic change may be in regular attendance at houses of worship. “We are currently in the middle of the largest and fastest religious shift in the history of our country,” they postulate, because “about 15 percent of American adults living today (around 40 million people) have effectively stopped going to church, and most of this dechurching has happened in the past 25 years.” The Largest and Fastest Religious Shift in America Is Well Underway NY Times Jessica Grose

Six Quick Observations about Trump Indictment

In the United States judicial system, it is customary to presume innocence when someone is charged with a crime. However Donald Trump is an exception to this presumption of innocence. He does a bad job of hiding his transgressions, personal, business, political and legal. He has a big ego and a bigger mouth. The weight and breadth of the evidence against him in the documents matter are overwhelming. My God, 37 counts!!!

Are there any stupider people than those who defend Donald Trump? They ignore his traitorous behavior, financial malfeasance, greed, allegations of him committing sexual assault and rape, and general ineptitude. As a leader, he is Barney Fife. I have no respect for the opinions and judgement of those who support Trump just based on this criteria.

If I had could question Donald Trump I’d ask: Do you think that you are a good role model for your son Barron? Would you want Barron to grow up and act like you? Would your wife Melania want Barron to grow up like you?

Laurence Tribe, the Constitutional scholar, said he was profoundly disappointed that the American people elected a man who was so bad at protecting national security and the American public. Tribe uses the word “sad.” I am furious that voters elected and support Donald Trump, a con artist and a “small man.”

My previous thinking was to offer Trump a pardon if he pleaded guilty to several counts and promised to withdraw from politics and public life. I’ve changed my mind. There would be no greater example of justice in our system that Trump going to jail for a long time. No pardon! Trump’s conviction and incarceration would serve as a great deterrent that no man is above the law.

I intend to avoid any Trump news. I don’t want to hear from him. I certainly don’t want to hear from anyone defending him.

The One Name I Wish I Was Called

A polymath.

I cannot think of a more flattering description or title as I have always admired men and women of varied skills, talents, interests and achievements. Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin are three of the most notable polymaths in history. I think that the term “polymath” is ascribed too easily. A polymath is to the world what a Hall of Famer is to baseball. The criteria is very strict and not everyone gets to enter the portal of notoriety.

On my eighth grade graduation, I received this medal for “General Excellence.” Even at the age of 14, I was very interested in current events, literature, politics, history, philosophy, psychology and religion. One of my grade school classmates reminded recently that he remembered me reading a mammoth volume of the Warren commission report on the assassination of President Kennedy when we were in eighth grade.

I have read different criteria to qualify as a polymath. Here is mine…

Education, reading, research and learning on various intellectual topics including politics, history, science, business, literature, religion, philosophy, psychology, sociology, technology,and sports.

2. Communication of ideas, thoughts, imagination and discoveries through writing, public speaking, painting, acting and music.

3. Extensive travels across the world with a wide variety of experiences and adventures.

4. Varied or significant roles and responsibilities in business, science, education, finance or public service.

5. The ability to speak in more than one language.

6. The ability to understand technology for productive and worthwhile goals.

7. The ability to appreciate the arts including music, the theater, cultural events, plays, movies etc

8. A mind with novel ideas, insights, and opinions driven by consilience – – the capacity to merge and synthesize one’s experiences, talents, interests and intelligence.

Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’

I read with great sympathy the adventures of the passengers on the Carnival Sunshine as their ship was buffeted by heavy seas and gale force winds off the coast of South Carolina. The ship rocked so violently that many passengers got sick and there was damage to the boat. It appears that the ship sailed directly into the storm on their return to Charleston.

My first cruise was on the Disney Magic in 1999. Before we left port, I questioned why we were leaving when there was a tropical storm around Orlando. I was told that we would sail around it. Guess what? The ship sailed directly into the storm. I did not sleep that night as the ship swayed from side to side making it very difficult to walk. I did not get sick as I was too afraid. I spent time in a lobby with a young mother and her children who were afraid they were going to die. The storm lasted all night until we reached The Bahmas the next morning. I saw the Captain and asked why we sailed through the violent storm. He said that they did not anticipate the ferocity of the storm. I was skeptical about his answer.

Surprisingly I sailed on another dozen cruises or over 100 days on the seas and ocean. I have been lucky as I don’t recall more than 2 or 3 days where the seas were rough. However I will never forget my first bad experience cruising. Like the Carnival Sunshine, there were no communications with the passengers during the emergency. Life boats and jackets are irrelevant under those storm conditions.

I think the cruise lines have been lucky. If one boat sinks during a storm or for whatever reason, it may very well kill their business. Customer safety and comfort are paramount and it certainly was not for the pasengers on Carnival Sunshine.

Quick Analysis of the News

Despite the announced agreement between President Biden and Speaker of the House McCarthy tonight, I would not be surprised that the agreement does not pass in the House and/or Senate. Neither Biden or McCarthy provide a lot of leadership or guidance.
Can a candidate who has been found liable for at least one sexual assault, fomenting an insurrection and violence at the Capitol, mishandling or hiding sensitive government and intelligence documents and pressuring Georgia politicans to change vote tallies actually get his party’s Presidential nomination?
Does Ron DeSantis actually make Donald Trump appear as a moderate and less dangerous?
2024 will be a national referendum on whether we still want to be a democracy, respect the rule of Law and respect the rights of all citizens. I am very pessimistic as to the answers.

Vox Persona

Spring Cleaning

It’s time for spring cleaning and no place in this country needs it more than in Congress.

Time for California senator Dianne Feinstein and Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman to retire for health reasons. Neither are capable (physically and mentally) of carrying out the duties of their offices. Ms. Feinstein’s circumstances are deplorable as she is obviously suffering from dementia.

Time for New York congressman George Santos to either resign or be removed from his office. It’s a disgrace that the Republican House leadership have not booted this fraud and felon out. His continued presence in the House is a huge disservice to the constituency that he cannot adequately represent.

Time for Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Jim Jordan to go too. They lack the intellectual bandwidth and judgment to perform their jobs.

NFL GOAT

Jim Brown died yesterday at 87. I remember watching him play for the Cleveland Browns. Often it too three or four guys to take him down. And no matter how often or how hard he was hit, he’d slowly get up and be ready for the next play.

Brown played 118 games straight and never missed a game. In my 70 years of watching football, he was the GOAT.

Mouse vs. The Louse

Bob Iger vs Ron DeSantis. On man is qualified to be President, Bob Iger. DeSantis looks the like the next Ed Muskie, George Romney, and Gary Hart. Ballyhooed early Presidential contenders who fall short of their party’s nomination.

Author: Eric