Pat Taub
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
Just when one thinks the racist, sexist Republican Senators couldn’t stoop any lower with their mean, baseless behavior, they proved us wrong this week in the ugly way they questioned Judge Jackson during her confirmation hearings to be a Supreme Court Justice. Throughout the questioning Judge Jackson remained calm, intelligent, and respectful, as her husband and 17-year-old daughter sat beside her. The photo below captures a daughter’s pride in a very accomplished mother.
US Protests in Support of Ukraine
As the mass media floods us with heart-rendering images of Ukraine migrants and bombed-out buildings, concerned Americans are staging protests in support of Ukraine. While I support the Ukrainian people, I worry that the protests are fueling the American escalation. Armaments are flooding into Ukraine as the US military budget goes sky-high. If we truly care about the Ukrainians, we should be marching for peace negotiations. A prolonged war will only kill more Ukrainians.
A Hopeful Documentary
This week I saw the documentary, “Breaking Bread,” about a food festival in Haifa, Israel, where Arab and Jewish chefs collaborate in the kitchen, connecting through a shared love of food, Over and over the chefs commented that food is a great equalizer in overcoming political and racial differences. I welcomed this peace message against the backdrop of war in the Ukraine.
Shlomi Meir,an Israeli, left, with Ali Khattib, an Arab, in the documentary “Breaking Bread.”
A Riveting Novel
Recently a friend gave me a copy of the spell-binding novel, “American Dirt” by Jeanine Cummins. The plot revolves around Acapulco residents, Lydia and her 8-year-old son, Lucas, who are forced to run for their lives after her entire family is murdered by a drug cartel in revenge for the investigative reporting of the cartel by Lydia’s journalist husband. Lydia’s story offers the reader a horrifying account of what it’s like to migrate from Mexico to the US.
March Madness
March Madness refers to the college basketball championships and not the state of the world. Having lived in the basketball city of Syracuse for 18 years, I became a huge fan of college hoops. While Syracuse didn’t make the tournament this year, I continue to watch, rooting for the underdog. Last night I saw a nail-bitter when fourth-seeded Arkansas beat Gonzaga, ranked as a first seed. I’ll watch more games this weekend, offering a pleasant diversion from world affairs.
Kamani Johnson celebrating during the second half of the Arkansas Razorbacks’ 74-68 victory over top-seeded Gonzaga.
