


"We smiled and said, ‘I needed this today.’ White cop and black man, we were both hurting. We walked around for an hour, just listening to each other.’: Police officer urges ‘we must build change together.’"
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![]() In the midst of all this madness, I am compelled to write. Seeing the images of a 17 year old white male, moved by misguiding beliefs, shoot a military rifle, a weapon he had no business possessing, at protesters, with deadly force, shows the outcome of rhetoric forged in hate. By advocating no platform and acceding solely to the demagoguery of its leader, the RNC appears to be taking a page out of George Orwell's 1984: “The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power, pure power... We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end." But Orwell also wrote: "If they could make me stop loving you-that would be the real betrayal." ![]() Doc Rivers spoke about this passionately and eloquently yesterday: “It’s just so sad. You know, what stands out to me is just watching the Republican Convention, and they’re spewing this fear, right. Like, all you hear is Donald Trump and all of them talking about fear. We’re the ones getting killed. We’re the ones getting shot. We’re the ones who are denied to live in certain communities. We’ve been hung. We’ve been shot. And all you do is keep hearing about fear. It’s amazing. Why do we keep loving this country, and this country does not love us back.” John Lewis' final words to American need reiteration: "I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe...the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way...walk with the wind, brothers and sisters, and let the spirit of peace and the power of everlasting love be your guide." ![]() A glimpse of hope from a white cop and a black man in Minnesota. "We smiled and said, ‘I needed this today.’ White cop and black man, we were both hurting. We walked around for an hour, just listening to each other.’: Police officer urges ‘we must build change together.’"
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![]() August 18, 1920, was the day the 19th Amendment to US Constitution was voted into law, assuring women in America the right to vote. On this day in 2020 we have an administration in Washington that is admittedly making it more difficult for citizens to exercise this universal suffrage: "But if they don’t get those two items [in the proposed Bill], that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it." So, today, let's remember the long struggle for voters' rights and pledge that, no matter what, whether it means mailing our ballot as early as possible, delivering that ballot personally to our Board of Elections, or standing masked six feet apart for as many hours as it takes, WE WILL VOTE. ![]() LINKS: 2020 Women's Vote Centennial Initiative The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association The Black suffragists you should know [Fortune] Women's Suffrage [History.com] Equal Rights Amendment The Playwright: Erika Dickerson-Despenza |
Times are always tough for Theatre in the good ol' USA. But now? Not only are we in major pandemic mode, we are finally starting to begin to come to terms with the racism rampant in our society. Tacit acknowledgement of the problem just doesn't pass muster anymore. But where do we go? What can we do? Really LISTEN, for one thing. Then, work for change. Like Yoda said, "Do or do not. There is no try." So, let's DO. As we plan for the December 2020 Virtual Conference, we look for ways to LISTEN and for ways to ACT. In the Post Election world of 2021, we are called to all become Engines of Change. - David Fuller |
Past President David Fuller blogs on items of interest to the NTC Membership and the Field at large.
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