Convention plea should be made to Biden, not protesters

Convention plea should be made to Biden, not protesters

 

Regina Arndts letter ‘A plea to DNC protesters’ omits the critical reason why thousands of people will descend upon Chicago in 2 months to use civil disobedience to disrupt the Democratic Convention. 

 

They’re coming to confront President Biden and the entire Democratic Party’s support and enabling of Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. That genocide has left Gaza’s 139 square miles in rubble, with little food, water or medicine to keep Gaza’s 2,300,000 Palestinians not yet dead, well enough to live if they are fortunate to dodge Biden’s 2,000 lb. bombs. 

 

President Biden and his Democratic establishment will have only themselves to blame if he 2024 Chicago Convention makes the Vietnam War plagued 1968 version look like a walk in Grant Park. President Biden has 10 weeks to pivot from genocide in Gaza to peace and promote a pathway to Palestinian statehood if he wants a peaceful convention. 

 

Ms. Arndt and her like-minded fellow Chicagoans should direct their plea, not to demonstrators listening only to their conscience, but to President Biden, who may be listening only to his re-election polling. 

 

A plea to DNC protesters 

Regarding the letter from William Cory Labovitch (“Fears of destructive protests,” May 29), I would like to echo his plea “to please be respectful for those of us who are trying to have a chance of a lifetime to attend a national convention and support (Joe) Biden’s reelection bid” and to add my own heartfelt request. As a lifelong Chicagoan who’s not planning on leaving anytime soon, I would like to add, for any of my fellow citizens who feel the need to speak their mind via protests at the Democratic National Convention: Seriously, y’all, don’t make us look like a bunch of jackasses. Chicago’s got a reputation problem as it is — deserved or (resoundingly) not — but please, please, let’s not give the haters any more talking points, any more easily televised scenes of lawlessness and disorder. Speak your mind. It’s not only our right; it’s our obligation. But please, I’m begging you: no chaos, no mayhem, no weapons, no wreckage. They’ve — barely — stopped talking about 1968, after all.

Regina L. Arndt, Chicago

President Biden’s subliminal D Day speech in France

President Biden’s subliminal D Day speech in France We heard the 1,800 words President Biden spoke at the 80th anniversary of the D Day invasion Tuesday. But below the surface was the subliminal message that coursed thru Biden’s mind, reflecting his real, tho unheard meaning. D Day Biden: “Today, NATO stands at 32 countries strong. And NATO is more united than ever and even more prepared to keep the peace, deter aggression, defend freedom all around the world.” Subliminal Biden: “NATO should have disbanded 30 years ago upon the collapse of the Soviet Union. But it provides billions to US weapons markers and allows America to dominate Europe and weaken Russia.” D Day Biden: We know the dark forces that these heroes fought against 80 years ago. They never fade. Aggression and greed, the desire to dominate and control, to change borders by force — these are perennial. Subliminal Biden: “Actually, that pretty much sums up American foreign policy in the 21st century. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Ukraine, Gaza…all turned into failed states from American aggression.” D Day Biden: “Ukraine has been invaded by a tyrant bent on domination Subliminal Biden: “Took America 8 years after we helped depose Russian leaning Ukraine President Yanukovych, but we finally provoked Russia to defend its borders from NATO nukes and save Donbas Ukrainians we armed Kiev to slaughter. D Day Biden: “Ukrainians are fighting with extraordinary courage, suffering great losses, but never backing down. They’ve inflicted on the Russian aggressors — they’ve suffered tremendous losses, Russia. The numbers are staggering — 350,000 Russian troops dead or wounded. Nearly 1 million people have left Russia because they can no longer see a future in Russia.” Subliminal Biden: “Ukrainian men are fleeing the draft in greater proportion than Russian men. Ukraine losses dwarf Russia’s, so much so Ukraine is running out of new cannon fodder. But America demands Ukraine keep fighting to weaken Russia on America’s behalf till the last Ukrainian solder is kaput.” D Day Biden: “The United States and NATO and a coalition of more than 50 countries standing strong with Ukraine. We will not walk away because if we do, Ukraine will be subjugated. Subliminal Biden: “Neither the US or its 31 NATO allies will shed 1 drop of blood to save Ukraine from losing the Donbas it has been subjugating for the past 10 years, and collapsing into failed state status.” . D Day Biden: “And make no mistake, the autocrats of the world are watching closely to see what happens in Ukraine, to see if we let this illegal aggression go unchecked. We cannot let that happen.” Subliminal Biden: “Actually, the rest of the world outside of NATO, is horrified America is stupidly seeking to extend its unipolar dominance long after its shelf life has expired.” D Day Biden: “And we must remember: The fact that they were heroes here on D Day does not absolve us from what we have to do today.” Subliminal Biden: “Keeping the Ukraine war going with billions in weapons instead of negotiating a mutually acceptable ceasefire, is not a good way to honor all who died here on D Day to achieve peace.”

When Yellow Cab promoted black customer dignity….a century ago

When Yellow Cab promoted black customer dignity….a century ago Walt Zlotow Jun 04, 2024 We take for granted that companies today reach out to the entire customer community, including minorities, LGBTQ and others. But a century ago, when only white men ruled corporations and racism/discrimination pervaded most society and culture, such outreach was unknown Walt’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. That’s why when reading about the Chicago taxi wars of the 1920’s between Yellow and Checker cab companies, I came across this interesting item. The Yellow Cab Company, among the first in the nation, was founded by Walden Shaw and John Hertz. Initially named the Shaw Livery Co., it provided transportation upon request to Chicago’s Smart Set between their swanky Loop hotels and apartments to their elite theater and dining haunts. Joe Sixpack had to walk or hop on a trolley to get around. As cars became more available, Shaw and Hertz saw huge profits by expanding taxis to be hailed by everyone on the street. Using yellow painted cars to stand out, they morphed into the Yellow Cab Company in 1915. Being obsessive about quality customer service, Yellow demanded strict professionalism and training from their all white drivers. Four years later, the summer of 1919 saw increased racial tension and violence in and around the Black Belt along State Street between 27th and 35thStreets. In June, Yellow issued the following warning in their company newsletter. “Attention of drivers is called to the fact that they must be courteous to colored people at all times. Any driver found guilty if incivility on account of a man’s color or race will be in serious trouble. This applies particularly along State Street between 27th and 35th Streets.” Sadly, a month later all taxi and other transportation in that district stopped due the horrendous week long race riot that killed 38, injured 500, leaving a thousand homeless. Now, every time I see a Yellow cab, if any are still around, I’ll remember that small but noteworthy attempt to respect the black community a century ago when such decency was rare indeed. Walt’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.